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Love Island’s 2021 bosses have defended claims of a lack of diversity in the upcoming series, saying the Islanders have ‘healthy BMIs’.
The line-up had come under fire from ‘disappointed’ fans as they complained about the lack of diversity after execs promised an ‘inclusive’ cast.
Taking to Twitter after 11 new contestants were revealed on Monday, which includes the show’s first disabled Islander – PE teacher Hugo Hammond, frustrated viewers also pointed out the programme’s failure to include plus-size singletons.

Slammed: Love Island’s 2021 line-up has come under fire from ‘disappointed’ fans as they complained about the lack of diversity after bosses promised an ‘inclusive’ cast (contestant Faye Winter pictured)
Love Island has previously been slammed by fans and former contestants for lack of different ethnic backgrounds, body types and members of the LGBT community represented on the show.
However, representatives for the reality show told MailOnline: ‘As a broadcaster, ITV celebrates diversity of every sort across our range of programmes in our schedule and across our channels.
‘In terms of casting for Love Island, the only stipulation to applicants is they must be over 18, single and looking for love.
‘This year’s Love Islanders come from a diverse range of backgrounds with a mix of personalities and have a healthy BMI.’


Frustration: Taking to Twitter after 11 new contestants were revealed on Monday, frustrated viewers also pointed out the lack of plus-size singletons (new contestants Chloe Burrows, left, and Liberty Poole, right)
Leading the 2021 Islanders this year are OnlyFans star Shannon Singh, fashion blogger Kaz Kamwi, the show’s first ever disabled star – PE teacher Hugo, Nando’s waitress Liberty Poole and civil servant Sharon Gaffka.
Also on the line-up are financial services marketing executive Chloe Burrows, semi-pro footballer Toby Aromolaran, water engineer Jake Cornish, events planner Aaron Francis, labourer Brad McClelland and lettings manager Faye Winter.
Taking to Twitter after the 2021 cast was revealed, fans shared their ‘disappointment’ over the lack of diversity and plus-size contestants, saying: ‘They stuck with tokenism and just hit copy and paste.’

Line-up: The 2021 line-up includes the show’s first-ever disabled Islander – PE teacher Hugo Hammond (pictured) – who was born with club foot and braved multiple operations as a child
However, despite the first 11 contestants already being confirmed, the ITV2 dating series will be introducing other Islanders, which are yet to be revealed, onto the show as the season progresses – allowing a chance for more diversity.
One person said: ‘Once again, i’m disappointed but not surprised at the total lack of body diversity on #loveisland Of course I’m still going to watch it, but it’s 2021. Do better.’
Another follower commented: ‘Over a year to find a diverse cast but someone decided nah let’s just stick with tokenism and copy + paste the rest.’
A different account put: ‘Lads I’m so excited for Love Island that I could BURST but where is the flipping diversity we were promised?!’
Another viewer commented: ‘@LoveIsland I thought we were gonna have some more diversity this year.’














‘It’s 2021. Do better’: Taking to Twitter after the 2021 cast was revealed, fans shared their ‘disappointment’ over the lack of diversity and plus-size contestants, saying: ‘It’s 2021. Do better.’
A different fan ranted: ‘No diversity yet again in the Love Island line up… Shameful.’
Another viewer noted: ‘As if I was hoping there was going to be plus size people on love island this year lol I don’t even watch it.’
A different follower put: ‘So with all the body positivity talks that’s been going on still can’t see any plus size person(s) in the #LoveIsland line up.’


Former fury: Love Island has previously been slammed by fans and former contestants for lack of different ethnic backgrounds, body types and members of the LGBT community represented on the show (new contestants Jake Cornish, left, and Brad McClelland, right)
Another fan joked: ‘Does the Love Island cast look exactly the same as every year? Yes. Does it annoy me cause there’s literally zero body diversity? Yes.
‘But am I still gonna watch it religiously at 9pm every single night for the next couple months? ABSOLUTELY YES. #LoveIsland @LoveIsland.’
While a different person added: ‘Nice to see a disabled contestant being included but still no plus size contestants. #LoveIsland.’
Earlier this month, Love Island boss Amada Stavri teased the 2021 line-up and promised that it will be ‘diverse and inclusive’.
However, the ITV commissioner said at the time that including gay Islanders was a ‘logistical difficulty’ due to the format of the dating show.
Love Island has previously been slammed by fans, and former contestants, for lack of different ethnic backgrounds, body types and members of the LGBT community represented on the show.
Speaking to RadioTimes, the ITV commissioner said: ‘We’re always very mindful of diversity and inclusion and hopefully you’ll see that when we announce the line-up.’
Stavri added: ‘In terms of gay Islanders, I think the main challenge is regarding the format of Love Island. There’s a sort of logistical difficulty, because although Islanders don’t have to be 100 per cent straight, the format must sort of give [the] Islanders an equal choice when coupling up.

Promises: Earlier this month, Love Island boss Amada Stavri teased the 2021 line-up and promised that it will be ‘diverse and inclusive’ (pictured 2018 cast)
‘With our dating shows, such as The Cabins, there is much more sexual diversity. The formats don’t have as much restrictions as Love Island. So we’re very sort of mindful of that across our programming on ITV and dating series. But that’s the difficulty with Love Island.’
In March, 2017 contestant Montana Brown called for greater diversity on Love Island and insisted it is ‘unhealthy for people to just see size 8s chomping around in their bikinis’.
The swimwear brand owner, 25, also stated: ‘I wanna see more people of colour’ while concluding that ‘with regards to racial diversity and body diversity, there’s always room for improvement’ on the programme.
Speaking on What Day Is It? podcast, Monata was quizzed about how progressive Love Island is.
She admitted: ‘I feel like, as a mixed race person, you’re always in a minority, especially on a show like that. It’s not something that I necessarily thought of while I was in the show.

Line-up: However, the ITV commissioner said at the time that including gay Islanders is a ‘logistical difficulty’ due to the format of the dating show (the 2019 line-up pictured)

Making history: The programme has featured bisexual contestants in the past, including Megan Barton-Hanson, Katie Salmon and the late Sophie Gradon (pictured together in 2016)
‘I’ve had quite a privileged upbringing. I grew up in quite a white area so I’ve always been in the minority anyway. So it’s something that I didn’t feel uncomfortable with.
‘But I definitely think with regards to racial diversity and body diversity there’s always room for improvement.’
The programme has featured bisexual contestants in the past, including Megan Barton-Hanson, Katie Salmon and the late Sophie Gradon – who became the show’s first-ever same-sex pairing in 2016.
The Love Island 2021 contestants were revealed on Monday, with a slew of singletons from all walks of life preparing to enter the Majorcan villa next week.
The pandemic resulted in last year’s series being postponed and fans are eagerly awaiting the new series following the ITV2 juggernaut’s extended break.

Slammed: Love Island has previously been slammed by fans, and previous contestants – including Montana Brown, pictured, for lack of different ethnic backgrounds, body types and members of the LGBT community represented on the show
Each confirmed contestant will be given thorough psychological and medical assessments by health experts before, during and after the series as part of new duty of care protocols.
Every Islander must fully disclose their medical history to ensure the environment of the villa is suitable. The 2021 summer series will be hosted by Laura Whitmore who featured in the show’s big teaser advert last week.
The 2021 summer series will be hosted by Laura Whitmore who featured in the show’s big teaser advert last week.
The hit ITV2 dating show has not aired since February 2020 after both the summer 2020 and winter 2021 editions were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Love Island returns on Monday June 28 at 9pm on ITV2 and the ITVHub.

Important: In March, 2017 contestant Montana, 25, called for greater diversity on Love Island and insisted it is ‘unhealthy for people to just see size 8s chomping around in their bikinis’ (pictured on the show in 2017)
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